Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c32.s1.19

c32.s1.19

We may note here the history of royal benefactions which built up Nālandā and endowed its work for several centuries. After Harsha, Hiuen Tsang mentions King Pūrṇavarmā who "presented to Nālandā a figure of Buddha standing upright, and made of copper, 80 ft. high", to cover which he also had a pavilion erected of six stages [Watters, ii, 174]. This Pūrṇavarmā might have been a Maukhari (as suggested by H. Heras in *JBORS.*, xiv, p. 18). Again, one of the Seals found at Nālandā mentions a king named Sureśvaravarman and gives his genealogy [*Arch. S. Annual Report*, for 1917–18]. Further, an Inscription states that Mālāda, a minister of King Yaśovarmmadeva, made various gifts to the monks of Nālandā, provided for their daily food, and paid money which could buy up the whole Vihāra [*Epi. Ind.*, xx, 37]. Dr. Hirananda Sastri thinks this Yaśovarmmadeva is Yaśodharma of Mandasor Inscription and King of Malwa [*Modern Review*, September, p. 307; *Ep. Ind.*, ib., p. 41]. But it is more likely that he was King Yaśovarmmadeva of Kanouj (*c.* A.D. 728–745).